Media content information provision

Abstract

A selective provision of content information of media content available at a content provider ( 30 ) to media rendering devices ( 12, 13, 14 ) present in a local network ( 2 ) is achieved by generating,at a content service provider ( 200 ) connected to a global network ( 3 ), content rights information defining rights to the media content for the media rendering devices ( 12, 13, 14 ). The content rights information is forwarded to a media server ( 100 ) implemented in the local network ( 2 ) to thereby control the media server ( 100 ) in the distribution of the content information to the media rendering devices ( 12, 13, 14 ) based on the content rights information. A controlled and selective provision of the content information in the local network ( 2 ) is thereby achieved.

1 . A method of providing media content information to media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) present in a local network ( 2 ), said method comprising:
 receiving, from a content service provider ( 200 ) connected to a global network ( 3 ) connected to said local network ( 2 ), content rights information defining rights to media content available at at least one content provider ( 30 ) for media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) associated with a user and present in said local network ( 2 ); and   selectively providing content information of said media content available at said at least one content provider ( 30 ) to at least one media rendering device ( 14 ) of said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) based on said content rights information.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving said content information from said content service provider ( 200 );   announcing said content information to said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ); and   receiving content information requests from said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ), wherein said selectively providing step is performed in response to reception of said content information requests.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising transmitting a content rights information request to said content service provider ( 200 ) in response to reception of said content information. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to any of the  claims 1  to  3 , wherein said selectively providing step comprises the steps of:
 identifying a subset of said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) based on said content rights information; and 
 transmitting said content information to said subset of said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ). 
 
     
     
         5 . The method according to any of the  claims 1  to  4 , wherein said selectively providing step comprises:
 identifying a subset of said media content that is accessible for said at least one media rendering device ( 14 ) based on said content rights information; and 
 transmitting content information defining said subset of said media content to said at least one media rendering device ( 14 ). 
 
     
     
         6 . The method according to any of the  claims 1  to  5 , wherein said selectively providing step comprises:
 identifying, for each media rendering device of said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) and based on said content rights information, the respective set of said media content that is accessible for said media rendering device according to said content rights information; and 
 transmitting content information defining said respective set of said media content to said media rendering device unless said respective set is the empty set. 
 
     
     
         7 . A content information control method comprising:
 receiving a user identifier associated with a user having access to media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) present in a local network ( 2 );   generating, based on said user identifier, content rights information defining rights for said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) to content information of media content available at at least one content provider ( 30 ) connected to a global network ( 3 ) connected to said local network ( 2 ); and   transmitting said contents rights information to a media server ( 100 ) present in said local network ( 2 ) to enable a selective provision of said content information to at least one media rendering device ( 14 ) of said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) based on said content rights information.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising transmitting said content information to said media server ( 100 ). 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said step of transmitting said content information comprises:
 transmitting, to said media server ( 100 ), address information at said content service provider ( 200 ) from which said content information can be download;   receiving a content information request from said media server ( 100 ) generated based on said address information; and   transmitting, to said media server ( 100 ), said content information defining media content accessible to said at least one media rendering device ( 14 ) at said at least one content provider ( 30 ).   
     
     
         10 . The method according to any of the  claims 7  to  9 , further comprising receiving a content rights information request from said media server ( 100 ), wherein said step of transmitting said contents rights information is performed in response to reception of said content rights information request. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to any of the  claims 7  to  10 , wherein said generating step comprises:
 receiving, from a user terminal ( 20 ) associated with said user and connected to said global network ( 3 ), device identifier of said at least one media rendering device ( 14 ) and content access information relating to said at least one media rendering device ( 14 ) associated with said device identifier; and 
 generating said content rights information based on said device identifier, said content access information and said user identifier. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing, based on said user identifier, information of said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) associated with said user; and   transmitting said information of said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) to said user terminal ( 20 ).   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11  or  12 , wherein said content access information specifies that said at least one media rendering device ( 14 ) is only allowed access to media content of a specified content type at said content service provider ( 200 ). 
     
     
         14 . The method according to any of the  claims 11  to  13 , wherein said content access information specifies that said at least one media rendering device ( 14 ) is only allowed access to media content originating from a specified subset of content providers available ( 30 ) for said content service provider ( 200 ). 
     
     
         15 . A media server ( 100 ) implementable in a local network ( 2 ) and connectable to media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) associated with a user and present in said local network ( 2 ), said media server ( 100 ) comprising:
 a receiver ( 110 ) configured to receive, from a content service provider ( 200 ) connected to a global network ( 3 ) connected to said local network ( 2 ), content rights information defining rights to media content available at at least one content provider ( 30 ) for said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ); and   an information provider ( 120 ) configured to selectively provide content information of said media content available at said at least one content provider ( 30 ) to at least one media rendering device ( 14 ) of said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) based on said content rights information.   
     
     
         16 . The media server according to  claim 15 , wherein
 said receiver ( 110 ) is configured to receive said content information from said content service provider ( 200 );   said media server ( 100 ) further comprises a transmitter ( 130 ) configured to transmit an announcement of said content information to said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 );   said receiver ( 110 ) is additionally configured to receive content information requests from said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ); and   said information provider ( 120 ) is configured to selectively provide said content information in response to said receiver ( 110 ) receiving said content information requests.   
     
     
         17 . The media server according to  claim 16 , wherein said transmitter ( 130 ) is configured to transmit a content rights information request to said content service provider ( 200 ) in response to said receiver ( 110 ) receiving said content information. 
     
     
         18 . The media server according to any of the  claims 15  to  17 , further comprising a device identifier ( 140 ) configured to identify a subset of said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) based on said content rights information, wherein said information provider ( 120 ) is configured to control a transmitter ( 130 ) to transmit said content information to said subset of said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) identified by said device identifier ( 140 ). 
     
     
         19 . The media server according to any of the  claims 15  to  18 , further comprising a content identifier ( 150 ) configured to identify a subset of said media content that is accessible for said at least one media rendering device ( 14 ) based on said content rights information, wherein said information provider ( 120 ) is configured to control a transmitter ( 130 ) to transmit, to said at least one media rendering device ( 14 ), content information defining said subset of said media content identified by said content identifier ( 150 ). 
     
     
         20 . The media server according to any of the  claims 15  to  19 , further comprising an identifier ( 140 ,  150 ) configured to identify, for each media rendering device of said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) and based on said content rights information, the respective set of said media content that is accessible for said media rendering device according to said content rights information, wherein said information provider ( 120 ) is configured to control a transmitter ( 130 ) to transmit content information defining said respective set of said media content to said media rendering device unless said respective set is the empty set. 
     
     
         21 . A content service provider ( 200 ) connectable to a global network ( 3 ), said content service provider ( 200 ) comprises:
 a receiver ( 210 ) configured to receive a user identifier associated with a user having access to media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) present in a local network ( 2 ) connected to said global network ( 3 );   a rights information generator ( 220 ) configured to generate, based on said user identifier, content rights information defining rights for said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) to content information of media content available at at least one content provider ( 30 ); and   a transmitter ( 230 ) configured to transmit said contents rights information to a media server ( 100 ) present in said local network ( 2 ) to enable a selective provision by said media server ( 100 ) of said content information to at least one media rendering device ( 14 ) of said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) based on said content rights information.   
     
     
         22 . The content service provider according to  claim 21 , further comprising a content information generator ( 240 ) configured to generate said content information, wherein said transmitter ( 230 ) is adapted to transmit said content information to said media server ( 100 ). 
     
     
         23 . The content service provider according to  claim 22 , wherein
 said transmitter ( 230 ) is configured to transmit, to said media server ( 100 ), address information at said content service provider ( 200 ) from which said content information can be download;   said receiver ( 210 ) is configured to receiver a content information request from said media server ( 100 ) generated based on said address information; and   said transmitter ( 230 ) is additionally configured to transmit, to said media server ( 100 ), said content information defining media content accessible to said at least one media rendering device ( 14 ) at said at least one content provider ( 30 ).   
     
     
         24 . The content service provider according to any of the  claims 21  to  23 , wherein
 said receiver ( 210 ) is configured to receive a content rights information request from said media server ( 100 ); and 
 said transmitter ( 230 ) is configured to transmit said contents rights information in response to said receiver ( 210 ) receiving said content rights information request. 
 
     
     
         25 . The content service provider according to any of the  claims 21  to  24 , wherein
 said receiver ( 210 ) is configured to receive, from a user terminal ( 20 ) associated with said user and connected to said global network ( 3 ), device identifier of said at least one media rendering device ( 14 ) and content access information relating to said at least one media rendering device ( 14 ) associated with said device identifier; and 
 said rights information generator ( 220 ) is configured to generate said content rights information based on said device identifier, said content access information and said user identifier. 
 
     
     
         26 . The content service provider according to  claim 25 , further comprising a device information provider ( 260 ) configured to provide, based on said user identifier, information of said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) associated with said user, wherein said transmitter ( 230 ) is configured to transmit said information of said media rendering devices ( 12 ,  13 ,  14 ) to said user terminal ( 20 ).